Happy Hallowe'en!

It's been awhile since I took a day off from being "out & about" so I declared today an "out & about" free day! Even though I was not "out & about", my mind went to a day that I was "out & about".  A way back on Hallowe'en Day in 2009, was the first time I dressed in a costume to hike.  It was the first time, but not the last time, yet the best time!  The full story with photos is in the link above.  I enjoyed playing the part of The Devil and when the curtain went up, I put on a show!  I bet Boulder Pass & Ptarmigan Lake in the Skoki Region never looked like it did on that October 31st in 2009 when we invaded it!  

The whole day was worthy of framing and I have done that numerous times since, in varies blog posts over the years.  Today I framed that day again but in a different way, I did a watercolour painting of my favourite photo from the dozens that I took.  This is my painting with the reference photo underneath.

In addition to rereading that blog post a few times, I also looked back at all my photos and remembered how much fun the day was from the beginning right to the end when we crazy carpeted down the long and winding four kilometre road back to the parking lot.  

at Boulder Pass

on Ptarmigan Lake

the crazy carpet ride

4 short stories

After being "out & about" today, I am now at 2095 kms covered to-date in 2024.  My goal was to cover 2024 kms this year and once I reached that my goal became 2087 kms to surpass what I did last year which was 2086 kms.  Now I have a new goal, I want to cover 2120 to beat what I did in 2021 which was 2119, the most distance I have ever covered in a year.  This new goal will be easy breezy and after that, I guess I will just make it a free for all and go for whatever!  Now on to my "4 short stories" ! 

checking out & searching for

On this day, I had two main objectives to accomplish in addition to the usuals of getting fresh air and exercise.  I went to Confluence Park to "check out" the Siberian Larch Tree.  As you can see it is looking quite vibrant in the morning light which is so great for being very late in October. The other main objective was to "search for" the two Great Horned Owls which were reported to be living somewhere in the Park. I had no luck with seeing them but I did see a mink.  A flock of Northern Flickers is hanging out here too.  The autumn shades are in full force for as far as you can see.  Temperatures during the day have been well above freezing and there is no rain nor snow in the forecast for the foreseeable future.  I will be back for more "checking out & searching for"!  

woodland wandering & swishing

Most leaves now lay on the ground and that makes for great "swishing".  I've been doing lots of that lately when the opportunity is presented. I have been aiming for "woodland" lots too lately.  While I do like being out in the open for the views that go on forever, I also enjoy "wandering" through the "woodland".  On this day up on Nose Hill, I aimed for the aspen-lined trails and went "swishing" until my heart was content.  I created this watercolour painting from the special split seconds in time I savoured.  When I was "swishing" shades on the paper, in my mind I was back "wandering" at that "woodland" forest!

my reference photos

what's new with you

These days weekends work better for visiting the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary.  The traffic on the Deerfoot 500 has been out of control and scary the past few weekdays that I drove it. That's really nothing "new" though.  Upon arriving at the parking lot, the first thing I noticed was the moon.  It is on the verge of being a "new" one come November 1st. A few weeks ago I purchased "new" hiking shoes, but I bought them for walking.  I have been going through walking shoes like there is no tomorrow and needed something more substantial.  These are warm & waterproof, have a good sole & grip.  There have been four muskrats in the lagoon, three of which are smaller than the other.  This is one of the small ones.  I believe the small ones would be "new" borns this summer.  While at The Sanctuary, the "new" weather began to come in, in one swoop.  With that cloud came much cooler temperatures.  

for my eyes only

What would I witness on this day up on Nose Hill?  There's always some kind of sighting to treasure!  I arrived at the tail end of the golden hour where my shadow lined up directly with the trail.  This was a shadow only "my eyes" saw!  With the golden hour gone, the sky now had a look of bursting open with pinks & purples forming an arch and sending an invitation to enter under.  Filling the sky, not only was this for "my eyes" but for everyones.  There to the west for all to see was a mountain peak peeking through the clouds with a touch of alpenglow hitting it!  I waited for the clouds to dance away and make the reveal.  Well, that was what "my eyes" saw!  The clouds did dance then the mountain disappeared! That was no mountain, it was just another cloud!  I still like what "my eyes" saw better! The two deer were down slope when I spotted them so only "my eyes" could see them.  A few seconds after I captured their beauty, they ran up hill to the wide open space for all others walking in the area to see. 

Banff National Park October 25, 2024

After hiking up Sulphur Mountain yesterday to get a grand view of all Banff, today I stayed low visiting many pretty locations.  I enjoy winter at Lake Minnewanka when I can skate and when the ice formations and methane bubbles are plentiful making for a photographer’s dream. That’s only in my dreams right now. It could become a reality in two months.  I walked a portion of the shore and admired the views.

It has been ages since I was here in another season other than winter.  I forgot what it looked like without ice. In a couple of months, I should be able to walk from where I am standing to that little island with the trees on it.

the sun catching the mountain peaks with the glow reflecting in the water 

a Black-capped Chickadee 

The picnic tables, shelters and food storage cabinets are available for use read round.

It’s rutting season and there are warning notices throughout the Park.

Luckily there were no Bull Elk close to where I was walking but I did have to stop to let this one cross the road. It was walking in my direction on the road so I backed up and pulled to the wrong side to give it a wide berth.  When it got to this spot, I rolled down the passenger window to snap this shot.  There were two more of these guys further along the road that were behaving erratically, I zoomed on by,

Two Jack Lake is another location that is so dreamy in winter.  While the Lake is still open water, ice lined the shore. I broke a piece off to play with.  This slice measures about four inches in height.

reflections at Two Jack Lake

a female Common Merganser 

Time came to venture into downtown.  Even at noon it was very quiet.

Tomorrow could be a different story as it’s the first day of the Banff Mountain Film Festival.  I looked in many shops but my heart was not into shopping today.  I do better at that in December during the spirit of the season.

The walk along the river was beautiful!

squirrel with lunch 

female Mallard

I eventually made it back to the free parking lot near the train station.  This was the view from my vehicle just before leaving to head back to my home away from home.

Banff National Park October 24, 2024

I went for the full overall view of Banff Townsite today instead of seeing the detailed sights up close.  To do that, I hiked up Sulphur Mountain. It began to snow while I was driving up hill to the trailhead but it did not last long.  The clouds began to break up, the sky took on pink tones and I was ready to hit the trail.  A few years back, it was a thing that if you hiked up you could ride the gondola down for free.  

The route is made up of many long switchbacks through the forest with no worthy views other than mountain teases through the trees.  As you get near the top, the switchbacks follow under the gondola track.  That’s when I started  to take photos.  

The hiking trail spits you out at the helicopter pad at the backside of the gondola station.  I made it! The welcome sign for hikers tells us to remove our spikes.  There are two brushes attached to the step to clean dirt from our boots before heading to the station.  

As I expected, it was very cold and very windy up here.

a few minutes by the fire helped

This is the full overall view of Banff that I  hiked up here to see! 

my selfie shot from the level 4 viewing location

I did not walk up to the Cosmic Ray Station at top left.  What I did do was find a bench inside by a window with a view and enjoyed my lunch. 

view of Mount Rundle from level 4

clouds rolling in and out over the Cosmic Ray Station

It was time to begin the hike back down Sulphur Mountain.  That’s the helicopter pad down below that I need to get to then the trail veers left off it at the bottom of the stairs.

Even though it warmed up somewhat, the trail remained as hard pack snow and frozen ground. My spikes and poles were much appreciated on this hike.  

Banff National Park October 23, 2024

It was just a blip but it caught my attention!  The first major snowfall of the season lasted a day, it was warm the days leading up to it and for the following days.  I knew some snow would stick in the mountains west of the city.  This escape westerly to Banff National Park is “the call of the first snowfall”!  The road conditions to get there were summer-like yet once I got to Lake Louise it was very early winter-like.  This was the view that welcomed me as I arrived near the head of the Lake from along the trail from the Upper Parking Lot.

My plan was to saunter along the shore and savour the sights.

At the far end of the Lake where it becomes the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail and follows through a forest section, it looked and felt a bit more winter-like.  Even with my spikes on and carrying poles and bear spray, I was not keen to venture further.  

I explored around the far end where there were an abundance of beautiful photo opportunities.  While here, I thought about how in two months time, the ice will be frozen, the skating section cleared and the ice castle will be built.  If the stars align, people will “wild ice” skate at the far end in late November. 

looking down onto the moraine at the far end of Lake Louise 

with The Chateau in the distance and the Ski Hill behind it

ice beginning to form 

 view of The Chateau from along the shore 

looking back to where I was

Fairview Mountain

the water truly was this colour viewing it with the naked eye 

When I got back near the head of the Lake, I settled on a bench for an extended time.  It was so incredibly pretty, I just wanted to continue taking it all in. This chipmunk paid me a visit. It was obvious it had received treats from others.  It came onto the back of the bench, then onto my shoulder, then onto my pack, I quickly zipped the pack when it poked its head inside, it came onto my knee and started to walk up my thigh.  I shooed it away a few times.  Finally it went on its way!  

a Clark’s Nutcracker

a Steller’s Jay

By the time I made it back to the trail leading up to the parking lot, staff were moving the canoes to their winter shelter, pulling them to here then partnering up and carrying them the balance of the way.

The last time I was at Lake Louise was in March for a few days.  I hope to venture back this coming December when winter is in full swing and I can skate and cross country ski.